Silver Service – 25 years at the organ bench

Chris Olding’s 25 years on the organ bench was celebrated with a concert held at St Bede’s Church, Basingstoke on Friday 14 October.

“When I started playing just one hymn at a Sunday evening service”, Chris recalls, “I was unable to climb onto the organ bench unaided and it was several years before I could even reach the pedals. Little did I think that, 25 years later, I’d still be there!”

The programme included some of his favourite pieces and stories from his career as a parish musician, as well as some larger works that are rarely played during church services. Throwing caution to the wind, Chris improvised a piece of music based on the theme from Coronation Street – as chosen by the audience!

Chris was joined by the St Bede’s Choir, from the church’s 9am mass, and soloists Natalie Fairhurst and Nathan Fenton, two of the church’s long-standing music-makers.

In a surprise twist, parish priest Fr Dominic Golding presented Chris with the Portsmouth Diocesan Medal for his service to the church, awarded by Bishop Crispian Hollis.